I'm looking to either switch back to writing code or continuing as a Technical Product Manager. What I'm really after is a cool problem space to fall in love with. I especially like exploring the boundaries between software and physical things.
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Remote: Onsite greatly preferred
- Willing to relocate: Maybe?
- Technologies: I've been in software for more than 20 years. I've touched countless languages, platforms, frameworks, operating systems, databases, you name it.
> I’m guessing because the vast majority of the market with a 4K Apple TV is not watching in stereo, but in surround with something like Dolby Atmos
I bet a chunk of money it is the exact opposite. I bet for the majority of the market the fanciest thing they have is a soundbar and maybe a subwoofer.
I honestly think the "home theater" market is pretty niche. It requires living conditions that most people simply don't have. You gotta have the right room shape for starters. Virtually every house I visit doesn't have a room that is easy to set surround sound up in.
I mean for Atmos you specifically need speakers placed above the listener. Not to mention a bunch of other speakers everywhere.
I dunno... almost nobody is living an a place amenable to such things. And even if they are, they need to get consent from their significant other to pull it off.
So yeah. I bet maybe 5% of the market has Atmos or any kind of surround sound. 15% tops.
> Prone to dust getting into the gap between the touchpad and the case so edge presses become even more inconsistent
Yup. All the time. Especially if you use those sleeves people talk about. And you have to use those sleeves because otherwise you don't know if you picked it up in the right direction.
Seriously. That remote is the worst pile of trash. I hate it every time I use it. Good riddance.
That touch remote truly is the worst thing apple has made in a while (the round hockey puck mouse being the absolute worst).
In addition to all your points... it just isn't that durable. All our normal TV remotes made it through our daughters "stick everything in her mouth" phase completely unscathed. Both our "touch" remotes now constantly act weird and flakey. I refuse to spend money to replace them because they are so awful.
I'm very glad to see that these remotes are going away. Like you, that pile of shit remote is a deal breaker for any future AppleTV purchase.
I've done the 1099 thing before. I had an accountant and my own LLC. I made sure to have a separate bank account that I dumped 30% of my billable time into. Each tax season I'd cut a giant check to the IRS.
I mean no disrespect to the "gig economy" people, but 1099 requires a lot of discipline. Most of them probably don't need to pay estimated taxes and instead will be cutting giant checks to the IRS each year. It requires a hell of a lot of discipline to stare at thousands of dollars of money sitting in your own bank account knowing you cannot spend that no matter what--that is uncle sam's money.
I wonder how many gig economy people wind up owing the IRS a ton of money. Especially when they have to pay self-employment tax on top of normal tax.
Plus I bet very good money 99% of them aren't paying state or municipal taxes. As a 1099 I had to pay Washington State B&O tax every year as well as some token amount to Seattle.
> but why are they no allow to do the same job as a Google employee?
That is how it is if you are a contractor working for any tech company.
The actual shitty part about being a "contractor" is you are almost always a W2 for the contracting firm. Which means you get none of the benefits of actually being a real contractor. As a 1099 you can:
* Deduct (and potentially charge for) a ton of shit like travel expenses, hardware, software, internet, phones, home office, etc
* Set up a SEP IRA which lets you contribute 25% of your salary up to $58,000. This is far more than what you can contribute to an employer sponsored 401k (though as a W2 your employer can top your 401k to the same limit)
* Bill as high of a rate as you can get away with
* Easily work multiple gigs at once
* Use your own tools.
* It's your own business, literally. So act like it!
The drawbacks to a 1099 are:
* You are your own collection agency. Some clients are very slow to pay you.
* You have to pay your own social security and stuff
* You pay full freight for healthcare
* You are not entitled to unemployment
* Taxes get a little more complex
* You are a "flake" in the eyes of a bank... so getting loans for houses and stuff is a little harder.
As a W2 working through a bodyshop you get:
* Paid weekly no matter how slow their client is paying
* They provide you equipment... no matter how shitty it is
* Maybe some kind of shitty healthcare offering that disqualifies you from buying your own plan and deducting it on your taxes
* Maybe some kind of shitty retirement plan that disqualifies you from contributing pre-tax money to your own IRA
* You can collect unemployment. Helpful for that 6 month break.
* You get paid at a substantially lower rate than whatever they are billing the client.
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Remote: Onsite greatly preferred
- Willing to relocate: Maybe?
- Technologies: I've been in software for more than 20 years. I've touched countless languages, platforms, frameworks, operating systems, databases, you name it.
- Resume: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryking/
- Email: me@coryk.ing
Keywords: python, product manager, opsec, security, identity platforms, software developer, full-stack, sql, operations, networks, contract work